NEW YORK -- There will be growing pains along the way, no doubt, but the Angels' perceived biggest concern heading into the season -- the success of the three young starters in their rotation -- has actually been a bright spot early on.

Skaggs, 22, is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA and is coming off seven innings of two-run ball against the Nationals on Tuesday -- an outing that went under the radar because it coincided with Albert Pujols' 500th home run.

Santiago, 26, has been a lot better since getting over a back issue that bothered him over the course of his first two starts, giving up just one earned run in 12 2/3 innings his last two outings to drop his ERA to 3.68.

And Richards, 25, has emerged as one of the best young arms in the game, with a 2.52 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 25 innings.

"I want them to stay within themselves, stay very humble and just take each game like its own game," Butcher said. "Take every positive out of every game and roll it into the next one, and take every negative and throw it out the window. And just keep building and building and building, until you just feel like you're invincible out there. Because this game can knock you down in a heartbeat."